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Adoption Stories
What are adopted people (adoptees) feeling and saying about adoption today? You will be surprised. Adopted people are diverse individuals with differing points of view, yet have been stigmatized into one type of people by the industry leaders. Even though we come from various backgrounds, we've been stereotyped as if all of us are somehow ungrateful if we don't show enough appreciation, labeled as if having Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) when we don't bond as expected, or too negative when we push for answers. This little book proves that we are an assorted population with varying backgrounds, and we should not be reduced to the label of anti-this or anti-that when we ask questions—questions that make the industry uncomfortable. Rather, we should be given the right to ask questions about our background and even gain access to our adoption documents when we inquire. We have the right to ask questions—even if it makes adoption agencies uncomfortable. We should have the right to know if we have blood-related sisters and brothers, aunts, or uncles. None of us should have to go to our graves without having the opportunity to develop friendships with our next-of-kin—if we so wish. This book, containing excerpts from Janine's "Adoption Books for Adults" collection, is completely biased on the rights of adopted people and void of influence from adoption authorities.
88 pages, Paperback
Published April 7, 2021
4 people are currently reading
13019 people want to read
About the author
Janine Myung Ja
5 books576 followersJanine Myung Ja was adopted from Seoul, South Korea, in 1972, which resulted in her investigation into intercountry adoption into adulthood. She curated numerous books on transracial and overseas adoption, including Adoptionland: From Orphans to Activists, The Unknown Culture Club: Korean Adoptees, Then and Now, and Adoption: What You Should Know.
These books explore the experiences and perspectives of adopted people from various countries. The narratives also point out the challenges adopted people face, including issues related to identity, culture, and belonging.
JANINE and her twin submitted their adoption file to be examined by Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2022, along with more than three hundred Korean-born adoptees. Fifty years after her overseas adoption, Janine recently learned that her adoption was "illegal" and a "serious human rights violation."
Since 2004, Janine has written critically about the Evangelical Orphan Movement (EOM). To raise awareness of the crisis of child trafficking, which fills the adoption market, she serves as the Executive Director of Against Child Trafficking in the USA. She is adamantly opposed to the overseas child market spearheaded by missionaries who have profited from the now 20+ billion dollar Adoption and Child Welfare industry and exploited vulnerable women, children, and families globally.
Various adoptee groups have recognized her work, and she has received numerous book awards during her writing career. Janine writes about her private experiences and philosophy using her maiden adoptive name Janine Vance. To discover her past and present, visit Janine Vance. To learn about Janine's study on the history of adoption, visit Adoption History
These books explore the experiences and perspectives of adopted people from various countries. The narratives also point out the challenges adopted people face, including issues related to identity, culture, and belonging.
JANINE and her twin submitted their adoption file to be examined by Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2022, along with more than three hundred Korean-born adoptees. Fifty years after her overseas adoption, Janine recently learned that her adoption was "illegal" and a "serious human rights violation."
Since 2004, Janine has written critically about the Evangelical Orphan Movement (EOM). To raise awareness of the crisis of child trafficking, which fills the adoption market, she serves as the Executive Director of Against Child Trafficking in the USA. She is adamantly opposed to the overseas child market spearheaded by missionaries who have profited from the now 20+ billion dollar Adoption and Child Welfare industry and exploited vulnerable women, children, and families globally.
Various adoptee groups have recognized her work, and she has received numerous book awards during her writing career. Janine writes about her private experiences and philosophy using her maiden adoptive name Janine Vance. To discover her past and present, visit Janine Vance. To learn about Janine's study on the history of adoption, visit Adoption History
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
January 4, 2021
Adoption Stories: Excerpts from Adoption Books for Adults is written by Janine Myung Ja, one of the founders of Adoption Truth & Transparency Worldwide Network. The book proposes that there need to be substantive changes to the adoption system, both public and private. Giving a voice to adoptees, contained herein are some of their stories, which are truly illuminating. Initially though, before the stories, there is a discussion of PAL or positive adoption language, something that must take place to empower adoptees when it comes to asking about their birth families. Adoption is amazingly a huge business enterprise, often overlooking the needs of children being adopted, and even their biological parents. This book provides a compelling backdrop to all kinds of adoptive situations, and by shining a light on these stories, opens up possibilities for improvement in the adoptive process. Highly recommend.
December 24, 2020
‘If you’re adopted, you have rights.’
Author Janine Myung Ja is the co-founder of Adoption Truth & Transparency Worldwide Network, has researched the adoption industry, and has compiled stories about those who have been adopted and their opinions about adoption.
Before the stories begin, Janine discusses the rise of PAL - Positive Adoption Language - which ‘disempowers those of us who have been told that we were orphaned as children yet astonishingly come from families – who are still alive and even searching and waiting for us! The PAL language has prevented us from finding back what is rightfully ours early on in our lives…we “adoptees’ receive poor treatment when we ask questions about our origin.’ She believes, ‘Things need to change.’
Janine opens with a 1986 moment in the first story, and the quality of writing establishes a new high: ‘Standing next to the cash registers, I’m a fourteen-year-old girl from Korea (dressed like Madonna and Michael Jackson), and I loiter in the magazine/book section of Johnny’s grocery store. My hands are clutched to a random ‘True Story,’ and I am totally engrossed in this journal spearheaded by a publisher who believes truth is stranger than fiction. The company began printing stories in 1919. By the 1950s, the magazine employed submitted stories from around the US involving young women reflecting on their lot in life. By the 1980s, the short stories I’m discovering are from real women who have somehow, someway gotten themselves into trouble: All I know is that I need to know more...Do women go through such life events? It’s unbelievable. I guess you could say I am sheltered and protected…’
In all of these stories the ‘commerce’ of adoption facilitators and the social system in general is examined, finding that there are many cases of ‘problematic adoption situations’ that disavow the rights of adoptees to know their biologic parents – and a similar barricade for some biologic parents who wish to know the position of their children placed in adoption. As Janine summarizes, ‘Adopted people are diverse individuals with differing points of view, yet have been stigmatized into one type of people by the industry leaders. Even though we come from various backgrounds, we've been stereotyped as if all of us are somehow ungrateful if we don't show enough appreciation, labeled as if having Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) when we don't bond as expected, or too negative when we push for answers. This little book proves that we are an assorted population with varying backgrounds, and we should not be reduced to the label of anti-this or anti-that when we ask questions—questions that make the industry uncomfortable. Rather, we should be given the right to ask questions about our background and even gain access to our adoption documents when we inquire. We have the right to ask questions—even if it makes adoption agencies uncomfortable. We should have the right to know if we have blood-related sisters and brothers, aunts, or uncles. None of us should have to go to our graves without having the opportunity to develop friendships with our next-of-kin—if we so wish…’
This book, containing excerpts from Janine's "Adoption Books for Adults" collection, is completely biased on the rights of adopted people and void of influence from adoption authorities. A significant and. valuable resource for adoptees, the book is a true eye opener about a subject too seldom discussed.
Author Janine Myung Ja is the co-founder of Adoption Truth & Transparency Worldwide Network, has researched the adoption industry, and has compiled stories about those who have been adopted and their opinions about adoption.
Before the stories begin, Janine discusses the rise of PAL - Positive Adoption Language - which ‘disempowers those of us who have been told that we were orphaned as children yet astonishingly come from families – who are still alive and even searching and waiting for us! The PAL language has prevented us from finding back what is rightfully ours early on in our lives…we “adoptees’ receive poor treatment when we ask questions about our origin.’ She believes, ‘Things need to change.’
Janine opens with a 1986 moment in the first story, and the quality of writing establishes a new high: ‘Standing next to the cash registers, I’m a fourteen-year-old girl from Korea (dressed like Madonna and Michael Jackson), and I loiter in the magazine/book section of Johnny’s grocery store. My hands are clutched to a random ‘True Story,’ and I am totally engrossed in this journal spearheaded by a publisher who believes truth is stranger than fiction. The company began printing stories in 1919. By the 1950s, the magazine employed submitted stories from around the US involving young women reflecting on their lot in life. By the 1980s, the short stories I’m discovering are from real women who have somehow, someway gotten themselves into trouble: All I know is that I need to know more...Do women go through such life events? It’s unbelievable. I guess you could say I am sheltered and protected…’
In all of these stories the ‘commerce’ of adoption facilitators and the social system in general is examined, finding that there are many cases of ‘problematic adoption situations’ that disavow the rights of adoptees to know their biologic parents – and a similar barricade for some biologic parents who wish to know the position of their children placed in adoption. As Janine summarizes, ‘Adopted people are diverse individuals with differing points of view, yet have been stigmatized into one type of people by the industry leaders. Even though we come from various backgrounds, we've been stereotyped as if all of us are somehow ungrateful if we don't show enough appreciation, labeled as if having Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) when we don't bond as expected, or too negative when we push for answers. This little book proves that we are an assorted population with varying backgrounds, and we should not be reduced to the label of anti-this or anti-that when we ask questions—questions that make the industry uncomfortable. Rather, we should be given the right to ask questions about our background and even gain access to our adoption documents when we inquire. We have the right to ask questions—even if it makes adoption agencies uncomfortable. We should have the right to know if we have blood-related sisters and brothers, aunts, or uncles. None of us should have to go to our graves without having the opportunity to develop friendships with our next-of-kin—if we so wish…’
This book, containing excerpts from Janine's "Adoption Books for Adults" collection, is completely biased on the rights of adopted people and void of influence from adoption authorities. A significant and. valuable resource for adoptees, the book is a true eye opener about a subject too seldom discussed.
January 4, 2021
I thought this was an awesome book about adoptees. They cover every aspect from international adoption to the orphan trains in the late 1800s and early 1900s and even talk about the first man to do an international adoption in a shocking as it may seem it is true it was Jim Jones from the mass suicide in Ghana. I even enjoyed the 10 questions at the end with the Janine the author. I thought that was a great addition to an already great book. I highly recommend this, My husband was adopted and although his situation wasn’t necessarily portrayed in this book it was still enjoyable to read. I can’t recommend it enough.
January 5, 2021
Adoption Stories is a very expansive view of adoption that rarely anyone looks into or investigates. What you read behind the humbled front jacket of the book automatically is informative and knowledgeable. This book is vital for those who think they have a calling to adopt or if they think adoption 'saves' lives. Many are unaware that suicide is more prevalent with adopted people and what makes it worse is that adoptees are not being able to freely speak about their pain without being criticized by the general public due to the lack of awareness. But Adoption Stories validates their journey on so many levels and articulates their experience in ways. I highly recommend this book even if not adopted, especially if you are a counselor or work in any other service-oriented career. In fact, this is a perfect book to share with these professionals or give as a gift to someone you know who is adopted. Having this extra bit of knowledge tucked away in your subconscious will help the next time you meet an adopted person or an adopted family member...with empathy and a compassionate heart.
January 22, 2021
This book was both excellent and difficult to read. The stories are absolutely gut-wrenching and shine a light on something no-one wants to talk about. Adoption is always touted as a good thing - and on the surface it seems like it would be. Unwanted/orphaned kids get the chance to go to a good, loving home. Of course, you always expect there to be a few bad families, like the horror stories of bad foster families you occasionally see on the news, the ones that are forgotten just as quickly as they swept through the headlines. What you may be unaware of, is just how some of those kids ended up being put up for adoption, and how many of them still had loving families waiting for them to return. This is a look at the realities of adoption, from the perspective of the adopted, and has definitely prompted me to do some further reading.
January 1, 2021
As someone who has spent time in the system, this book is fantastic. Though I was never adopted (or put up for adoption) the similarities and stigma remain the same in many instances. There are things in this book that I will never know firsthand, but there is so much in here with similar feelings and public perception of any ward of the state.
These stories, even for someone like me who has been in state child care facilities, are eye-opening to the problems and mindset of people who have been in the adoption world. How the system is scrutinized, and things that I haven’t even thought of (like the negative language meant to set the poor perception of adoptees) is examined in this book and it’s a refreshing and wonderful feeling to be able to see my feelings, and feelings of many of my childhood friends, brought into words in such a way that seems like someone is rooting for people like us.
This is basically a challenge to the adoption system, both private and public agencies, calling them out.
This is a great book, not just for people like me, but for anyone who wants to see a positive change to a group of people often ignored by society.
These stories, even for someone like me who has been in state child care facilities, are eye-opening to the problems and mindset of people who have been in the adoption world. How the system is scrutinized, and things that I haven’t even thought of (like the negative language meant to set the poor perception of adoptees) is examined in this book and it’s a refreshing and wonderful feeling to be able to see my feelings, and feelings of many of my childhood friends, brought into words in such a way that seems like someone is rooting for people like us.
This is basically a challenge to the adoption system, both private and public agencies, calling them out.
This is a great book, not just for people like me, but for anyone who wants to see a positive change to a group of people often ignored by society.
January 15, 2021
This book surprised me, it made me actually think about the struggles that adopted children come across on a daily basis, i didn't even realise that there were so many obstacles or denied rights that adoptees face. Author Janine Myung Ja shares the stories of real people who have been adopted that have or are currently facing these issues. Continuously fighting for these rights to be given and to stop the labelling and judgement that these people are still facing. An eye opening read that i would recommend.
January 13, 2021
I'm not an adoptee, but I have known people who have been through the system and the process has been on my mind recently thanks to a storyline in a UK TV show, as well as considering adoption myself at a point. I wanted to know more about what it was like to be adopted and how it can affect all those involved in the process, which eventually brought me to the books of Janine Myung and 'Adoption Stories'.
The emotive book tells the stories of a number of adoptees and the struggles they face, such as stigma in society, feeling overlooked, being stereotypes, or feeling guilty for trying to find out where they came from. It's an enlightening book, with examinations of the adoption process and the industry and the rights of adoptees. The message I took away from this book, is that the feelings of adoptees should be validated - they should be able to freely talk about their pain or their origins, and receive empathy instead of criticism from a society that doesn't understand them.
The emotive book tells the stories of a number of adoptees and the struggles they face, such as stigma in society, feeling overlooked, being stereotypes, or feeling guilty for trying to find out where they came from. It's an enlightening book, with examinations of the adoption process and the industry and the rights of adoptees. The message I took away from this book, is that the feelings of adoptees should be validated - they should be able to freely talk about their pain or their origins, and receive empathy instead of criticism from a society that doesn't understand them.
February 18, 2021
Five star story!
February 18, 2021
This was such a roller coaster ride!
February 18, 2021
Most enjoyable read I’ve had in ages!
February 18, 2021
Like the book a whole lot.
February 18, 2021
Exciting story, wonderful development.
February 18, 2021
Powerful book indeed.
February 11, 2021
First of all this book contains excerpts from Janine's "Adoption Books for Adults" collection, a short book about the side of the adoptees; they all have one thing in common, they are looking for answers, they want them and they should have the right to have them. The problem is the adoption agencies that think that information must be buried the moment they find a family, they think is case closed when that is the farthest from the truth.
This book covers an uncomfortable truth if I must say, the way people keep talking about the adoptees makes them a whole different target for an entirely different reason they had no say. And this is the problem, a new system, a new transparency for the adoptees when they are looking for answers that will benefit the life they are living; this is an eye-opening book, nothing is what it seems and I will recommend this book to everyone.
This book covers an uncomfortable truth if I must say, the way people keep talking about the adoptees makes them a whole different target for an entirely different reason they had no say. And this is the problem, a new system, a new transparency for the adoptees when they are looking for answers that will benefit the life they are living; this is an eye-opening book, nothing is what it seems and I will recommend this book to everyone.
February 17, 2021
Most amazing book for discerning readers.
February 18, 2021
Utterly beautiful.
February 18, 2021
Just fantastic.
February 18, 2021
Well written with a great plot!
February 18, 2021
Spectacular book I’ll read again soon.
February 18, 2021
A pretty awesome book.
February 18, 2021
Superb book I’ll read it again soon.
February 18, 2021
Pretty interesting book.
April 21, 2021
I am not adopted and by the time I got to page 5 I was already so excited to read this book, to learn more about the way the process works and how these adoptees feel and to read the stories amongst them. I like the way that Janine has written it and how you can feel her authenticity just bleeding through the page. I have found this book to be extremely moving. I am glad that this was recommended to me to read because I have learned a lot from what adoptees feel with the process and how much is stripped away from the adoptees as well as the families that have lost their children. There are too many secrets in the way adoption is being held. If anyone is considering adoption I think this book and others like it, is something crucial to read. For example, I could not imagine living a good chunk of my life then learning that I was technically an illegal alien. It's shocking! There are some heart wrenching stories in this book and I agree that they should NOT be silenced. I like how Janine states "We are planted by Mother Nature and Father Time" I feel that this statement goes for all people. She is passionate about EVERYONE IS LOVED!
February 17, 2021
Unforgettable plot. I didn’t want it to end.
February 17, 2021
Most addictive storyline.
February 17, 2021
Original storyline.
February 17, 2021
Great book!
February 16, 2021
Like the book so much.
February 16, 2021
This book really was outstanding.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews